New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-14
MICHAEL KATKOFF.
HIS OWN STORY OF HIS GREAT WORK FOR
REAL RUSSIANISM
trRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or TIE TRngzEI

nounce to you the death of man who, though
neither of titled rank official station was the
mghtiest nan in the whole Russian Empire, the
Gar himself hardly excepted-Michael katkoh'
Editor of The MOSQUE Gazette, apostle of what Is
known in Western parlance as "Panslavism," but
what the Russians call by Katkoffs own nomencla-
ture, Real Rnssisnsm perhaps the English
spelling OF the Russian term would be "Tchistai
RusskOfsko"
During my visit to Russia il has been my good
fortune to meet VI. Katkof. had returned to ST.
Petersburg in the latter part of April last from the
Georgian Caucasus whittier had been sent by
syndicate of tunnel contractors in the capacity of
consulting engineer to examine the projected
Suram Tunnel, which is to let the rrauscaucasian
Railway through the watershed between tho Black
and Caspian seas. NJ Katkoff had been summoned
from Moscow by the Car for n sonal discussion
of State affairs and incidentally to receive mild
reLuke for his persistent and trenchant attacks
upon the foreign policy of VI. de Gers, the Russan
Premier. 1t will be understood that the Cars re-
buke was not very scathing when it is mentioned
that NJ. Katkof was entertained as n guest OF honor
at the Gatschnl Palace. and on the same day when
he listened to the Emperops expressions OF dspieas-
urc he received from the Empress miniature pOr-
trait of herself and her children, painted on ivory
and set in a wreath rof pearls and diamonds and
tended testify the Empresss appreciation of his
devotion to the true cause of Russia and the
Russians
1t was on his return from Gatscbina. after this
event, that met him in st. Petersburg at n CLUB.
lie was even then suffering severely. His face was
s1llow and pallid. and he was perfectly well aware
that he had not many months to 1--we In size and
facial appearance he bore striking resemblance TO
Senator Camden. of West Virginia But his man
ner and his style of conversation were sui geaufs.
Sick aud tired az he was, he made willing Listeners
of the little circle in which met him. His talk
was a wonderful and picturesque procession OF
epgraus uttered ndscriminateIy in the most
vigorous and idiomatic Russian. French, German or
English, according to his fancy CT the linguistic
needs of tie listener. was introduced to him
an American engincer-a character in which he
took little interest. Bnt n casual remark that
had been somo years in journalism as Washington
correspondent and otherwise brought out his in
stnctS
"Your press in America has great license" he
said. Is it your belief that the total lack OF
strant upon journalism existing in country is
unmiIed gooli"
suggested that aid not consider myself compe-
tent to discuss that question that might labor
under Notwithstanding oucc been indie ed for
criminal libel upon Senator of the United State'.
further suggestion that n discussion of Russian
journalism would be alike more pleasant and more
profitable than n discussion of journalism in the
United States. lie then went on to say that soino
persons had likened his journal TO TIE london
Times they callei 10 the Russian " Thundercr.'
But he did moi aspire TO that character lie coEld
see in The 1imcs nothing bnt a newsmouger; of
vast resources indeed. aud of great power by indi
rection. hut still primarily a ncwsmongcr. In fact
that appeared 10 him to be the universal tendency
CT Anclo-SaXon journalism the world over; there
was a steady growth OF avaficc for mere news, bare
announcements OF events and steady decline in
tho value Of Deductions, opinions az / feelings 10
expressed editorially. "fhe elitor Is stepping
down and the reporter is stepping NJ, ho remarked,
" in all Engl!sh-spcaking countrlos,'
So there coud be no comparison between that and
the journalism OF Russia. There opinions formed
the staple and the writer was paramount AS for
his ow journal. The MoJcor GG<etie, it had in his
estimation but one rdison dcirc lis mission was
purely apostolic. Russia for the Russians" was
at once its motto ana the object of It's efforts IL
had been the policy Of the publici',s of Western
Europe to miropre,cnt everything Russian. The
truth about Ru STA rarely found its way the
Western frontier Ii it did stray over there ii
was speedily lost in the bourscs OF Berlin. Paris and
London. For many years Russia had been regarded
by the bankers, brokers, manufacturers ana
schemers OF England France and Germany as their
Legitimate prey. German influence had predom
mated in trade and French influence in society," IL
was not so very long ago when, if a railway to
be built in Russia, 4 Germaa engineer must be I'M
ported. Herr krupp must mako cannon for Russia.
England. their arch enemy, must build their men
ofwar. France must make their W. ne, their lace
and their silks Tue moor Russian was fit for moth
c;f, o,,1 n
and the Trails vherewth to paw for the industrial
products Of the West; or to tan leather, to make
whips TOR others to lasellatc him win! Laiterly.
when tho crops began to fail IN Western Europe
they condescendcd to buy Russian grain that Is
TO say, they would take "A cargo now and then from
Odessa as a check upon price, OF wheat in America.
But on the whole they had no use for Russia except
as target for their can't All this time the bowels
of the earth in Russia ware bursting 9th iron aud
coal unmined, with petroleum forcing its way In
springs into the Caspian Sea the peasants hud-
died IN their squalil villages; the mobiles lOled in
Paris and ut the German spas the mighty brain of
the Slav race was in stupor, and Its infinite
muscle in a wise.
So long as this the status quo, Western Europe
patted Russia patronZingly on the back, saying:
You are very fine barbarIan-the finest bar
harlan we ever saw, in fact-but please do not
forget that You are barbarian. If you should once
conceive the horrible notion that you capable
of civilization the balance OF power would be dc
s;roycd. 30 careful, therefore. and refrain from
yourselves capable Of civilization"
Of course such situation was intolerabe. No
nation can exist amply as buyer Of the surplus
wares Of its neigbbors. Ii We date tho renaissance
Of Russis at 1870, which is correct enough, VIC
shall sec that at that date urred resurrection
This resurrection was from death which had been
caused By what the English call /" froe trade"
"Now." continued NJ. Katkoff, al set up no claim
to originality a. a discovercr. The principles
which / ain about to enunciate had been applied
in the United States, under the teachings of your
Mr. Greeley and THE NEw-YoRK TRiBUNE-.aided
by the circumstances of your Civil War-some time
prior to their incubation by me in The MOSQUE
Gazette as the salvation doctrine for industrial